Yasashii Yuwaku Part 2: The Virgin Temptress
MURAsaki Hime
Chapter 11:
' Good-morning, Reality '
A shiny, black Mercedes Benz pulled up into the driveway and came to a halt, shortly followed by a man opening the back door for the passenger to come out. She slowly came to her feet and brushed her long black hair from her face. She looked around as the man took out her luggage and closed the door.
" It's good to have you back, Yelan-san," he said with a smile. She turned to him with serious face that made him hold his next sentence and felt surprised when her lips curled into a smile.
" Oh, Wei. How many times have I told you to just call me Yelan?" she asked shaking her head, her long hair swaying gently as she moved. He gave her an embarrassed look. Being as important as she was, he hadn't expected her to correct him for something like that. He had always been taught to be honorific, but the friendship he had between him and the Li family was much too close for that.
" I must admit I keep forgetting, Yelan." He said walking up to the large doors with his keys. He turned to the side and typed in the security code, it was very late and they didn't want to be mistaken for an intrusion.
They entered the large mansion and closed the door. The weather was becoming very cold, which meant the next season they were to expect was winter. Wei immediately took her bags upstairs and excused himself as he left the first floor. Yelan walked gracefully along the marble floors to the kitchen.
" Some tea would be great..." she whispered to herself, when she walked in seeing Nagawa sitting at the table with a book.
" I see you've returned, my sweet." He said with a grin. Yelan smiled and walked over to give her fiancé a warm hug.
" Oh...how I've missed you dearly," she whispered in his arms as he released her to give her a kiss.
" And I you, Yelan" he said against her lips as he sat her down and got up to make her the tea he had heard her mumble about. Wei walked in hearing his last sentence and frowned. He had had to work hard for the permission to call Yelan without an honorific ending. But he sighed letting it go, seeing as Nagawa was making her tea.
" I guess you have your tea taken care of," Wei said giving Yelan a smile and not even giving any effort to make eye contact with his untrustworthy enemy. She smiled standing back up and walked to Nagawa's side as she watched him boil the water.
" Yes, and but everyone knows you make the better tea, Wei." She joked making Nagawa nod at Wei.
" It's true. I tend to always make me tea...differently," he said giving Wei a strange, peculiar smirk. Wei noticed this and mentally questioned his statement.
" Any way, I'm going to check on my Xiao Lang. He's been good, am I correct?" she asked turning to the stairs. Wei nodded with a smile, remembering what had happened that entire day.
" Of course, Syaoran is a very well behaved and responsible. Believe me..." he declared fiercely so Nagawa wouldn't dare contradict.
" Uh...yes. I agree completely." Nagawa replied to his comment, turning away. Yelan gave Wei a worried smile and wasn't sure what to say.
" Well...I should go and see for myself." She said softly and left Wei and Nagawa alone to settle this for themselves. Her footsteps soon became faint and distant against the marble floor as she walked up the soft, carpeted stairs in silence.
" If things are taken care of here, I think I shall turn in for tonight." Wei said, bowing respectfully and turned abruptly to leave the room. Nagawa laughed coldly, with a smile that didn't seem to match his eyes.
" All I have to say is mind your own business, Wei. Because you'll soon see that it's me that Yelan confides in. Nothing you do or say is going to change her tune, unless I say so. And as for her dear son Syaoran...we'll just have to wait and see what events change his 'good-boy' status...or what secrets might I add..." He growled in a low voice, arrogantly.
' We'll just see about that' Wei thought and quickly slipped out the room.
Yelan slowly opened Syaoran's bedroom door to see everything pitch black. She moved to the curtains and opened the ones that led to the balcony. She looked out into balcony and could feel her face being bathed in moonlight. She turned back to her son, sleeping peacefully, and sat on the edge of his warm bed.
" Xiao Lang. Xiao Lang....wake up, honey," she whispered stroking his head. She stopped for a moment and felt his forehead again and could feel it was slightly warm. She began to feel worried wondering if he had a fever, and if so how did he catch it.
He slowly began to stir feeling a soft, cool hand on his forehead. He placed his hand on top of the persons and opened his sleepy amber eyes to come face to face with his mother. He sat up quickly surprised to see her and smiled, feeling a little drowsy and yet really happy to see his mother.
" Mother...it's you," he stated rubbing his eyes, to then be engulfed in her arms, her soft perfume reminding him of how much he missed her. And he had to take the return of his mother for him to realize this.
" Xiao Lang, how are you? Sorry to wake you at such an late hour, but I had to see my dear son." She whispered stroking his head.
" Its'ok. I missed you, when did you return?" he asked sitting on his bed beside her.
" Not too long ago, but enough about me...have you been good? Have you been partying at inappropriate hours? And what about drinking? Hmm?" she scolded making Syaoran quickly answer with a no.
" I haven't been drinking...honest," he said looking up to his mother, trying to make his amber eyes seem innocent. Even though he hated to deceive to his mother, he knew he had to. Or Nagawa would just have more things to complain about. Then there was the one question his mother always asked.
" What about your marriage? Isn't there anyone you've met who you wish to marry?" she asked sweetly. It was a good thing it was dark, or she would have seen Syaoran's face burn a little. He never blushed, but when she mentioned marriage, Sakura's face appeared in his mind with her beautiful face smiling back at him in a white dress.
" Well...." Syaoran trailed off contemplating whether to tell his mother his undying affection towards Sakura, or just do what he did best: lie. Yelan smiled kissing Syaoran's cheek.
" Who is it? I know you're always dating someone, tell me.... Oh! And that reminds me.... I know we don't really talk about this enough. But have you started having—"
" HER NAMES SAKURA!" Syaoran exclaimed, not wanting her to go on any further. It was enough to be lectured about it, and it would just lead to another lie. If his mother found out he was a player, he would never hear the end of it and an arranged marriage would instantly come to mind.
" Alright, Xiao Lang. I understand that you wouldn't like me to continue. I'll let you off with a warning." She reassured making Syaoran sigh in relief, this was just to embarrassing for words. His mother got up and walked to the door, but just before she left she turned back to him and gave him a long, meaningful look.
" But, If you do anything that holds the Li family responsible, for example, something as careless as getting a woman pregnant too young..." she paused to re-think her words.
"...you will be disowned," she said, her voice turning cold, losing it's kindness. Syaoran gulped, he'd never seen this side of his mother before and it almost scared him. No one ever went against her ways, and Syaoran knew being the youngest with his sisters already married and out into the world on their own, he had better not screw up.
" Yes, mother" he replied, his gaze falling to the floor.
" And I'd also like to meet this Sakura. Understand, honey?" she asked, her voice returning to it's normal octave. Syaoran nodded, imagining Sakura's face when he told her his mother wanted to meet her.
" You'll meet her, I assure you. But, mom?"
" Yes?"
" Is it okay if Nagawa stays out of this.... I just want you to be the judge of things," he explained making her nod slowly. She whispered a goodnight to her son and closed the door.
She hadn't meant to sound so harsh, but Syaoran being her only son and last child, she expected a lot more of him. She wanted him to be a true man like his father was. And this last marriage was of huge significance and importance to the Li family. Especially since it wouldn't be the only one taking place, tradition played a huge role in this. And Nagawa wanted nothing more than perfection. Yelan sighed hoping Syaoran wasn't too shaken and quietly made her way back downstairs.
Syaoran closed his eyes once more and tried to concentrate on nothing but trying to make himself fall into a mindless slumber. His mind was full of deep thoughts, and he felt confused when he felt the room start to spin. He groaned wishing his mother's hand were still on his forehead. The entire room felt like it was a hot oven, and that he was the one suffocating in it. He winced, feeling a distant throbbing in his head and looked around to see his room an unbearable pitch black. He couldn't take it anymore and slowly began to feel himself lift off the bed and onto the cool carpeted floor. Yet it felt like it was on fire.
" Oh god, make it stop..." he growled and focused his eyes on the balcony. The door that led outside, for the nice cold air that would wake him from his nightmare. He walked closer and closer until...
The room flashed before his eyes and he once again found himself still lying in his bed. He slowly sat up and for the first time put his hand on his head, making him realize he was extremely hot. He stopped and frowned, cursing in his mind.
" I-I caught Sakura's fever...shit..." he mumbled feeling his body shake. It was suddenly very cold. He pulled the comforter over him and shut his eyes. It wasn't even morning yet. And for the first time he really did have a mandatory reason to stay home. He was sick.
" Oh man...this is all my fault. This entire mess...if only I'd...then I wouldn't be suffering this illness," he muttered angrily, yet it sounded like a pathetic plea of sadness. Feeling sorry for himself wouldn't help, and he knew it. He breathed deeply, trying to calm his shivers down. Hopefully this would all be over by morning...
" The morning..." he whispered.
The quiet peacefulness of the night was interrupted by a long, soft sigh. The lights of silent kitchen were suddenly turned on and a slender figure went to the fridge. Soon another person in a robe followed the figure. The person turned around and smiled sheepishly.
" I-I couldn't sleep..." she answered quickly, her sentence shortly followed by a yawn. Sure she was dead tired and still a little sick, but something...no....someone kept reappearing in her head. Which prevented her from falling asleep.
" You couldn't sleep, eh? Seems to me that you appear very tired," the woman responded. The person smiled closing the door, yet still stood there with her hand on the freezer handle.
" Uhh...can I have something to eat, Yasumi?" Sakura asked, fingering the handle. Her stomach was obviously in need of some desperate nourishment. Yasumi nodded but then raised a brow.
" And what exactly to you want at 2 in the morning?" she asked walking up behind her.
" Ice cream," she mumbled cutely. Yasumi sighed shaking her head, but not in protest. She figured Sakura would soon find out that she also loved to eat ice cream at these strange hours, and took out some spoons and cups. Sakura immediately knew her answer and took out a container of vanilla ice cream.
They both soon found themselves on the couch, with a fire blazing in the fireplace. The temperature was dropping so rapidly now, that Yasumi decided to open the chimney up and start a fire.
" So...what's on your mind? Feeling any better?" Yasumi asked, licking her spoon clean and scooping another spoonful up from her cup. Sakura sunk low in a pillow and gazed into the warm glow of the fire.
" Yeah..." she stated, and ate some more ice cream, letting it melt on tongue. Ice cream was perfect for a sore throat, but apparently there was something more than that on Sakura's mind. Yasumi noticed this and swallowed her ice cream.
" What's wrong, hon?" she asked looking at Sakura's face, feeling worried. She shook her head and looked up with a smile.
" N-nothing! I'm fine...it's just that umm...well..." Sakura was bad a lying, especially when she really did have something major on her mind. Yasumi gave her a kind smile showing her she was in no hurry, and that she was ready to listen.
" Syaoran-kun..." Sakura whispered. Yasumi's smile instantly lit up and she put her cup down.
" Oh I see! Nervous about something? Do you want to ask him something, but afraid of rejection?" Sakura's face turned a bright crimson, and she turned to Yasumi with an astounded expression.
" Wow. Since you seem to know my predicament, what do you suggest?" Sakura asked, matching her intellectual tone.
" Well...what's the status here? Tell me your motives for this? What you want to ask him? Hmm? I need answers!" Yasumi teased, making Sakura smile.
" I want to ask him out tomorrow morning, to thank him for what he did for me yesterday. But...I'm really busy after school with uh...well...I want to apply for a job," Sakura said not knowing how she would react.
" Why the sudden need for money? Is this for your father's surgery?" Yasumi asked, again knowing exactly what was going on in Sakura's confused head. She nodded and waited to hear her words of advice.
" Well...I'm sure Syaoran would love the whole morning thing. Guys may not show it, but they feel flattered when girls fuss over something just for them. As for the job..." she stopped in mid-sentence and put her hands on Sakura's shoulders.
" Try not to worry about it. I'm sure you'll eventually get the money, but right now you have more important things to worry about. Remember why you came here? Because you wanted to come for a better education that's why—"
" And all that is more important than my dying father?" Sakura cried, removing Yasumi's hands from her shoulders. Yasumi moved back regretting her words. Sakura could feel her eyes start to water as she look forward into Yasumi's eyes.
" He's dying...and all I can do is just sit here and enjoy my time here in Hong Kong. I want to do something! I feel so useless..."
" You aren't, Sakura!" Yasumi tried.
" All I can do is get money! And I'll do it anyway I can! Even if it interferes with my damn education or my happiness here! I'm going to get the money and my father isn't going to die! And if he does..."
Yasumi sat there feeling extremely worried for her next sentence. This much more than she could handle.
"...I'll never forgive myself. Never!" Sakura cried, letting her beautiful emerald eyes become flooded with tears from deep within her. All her pain and suffering. All she wanted to do was make things right. She owed it to everyone for where she stood now, and she didn't want them to feel responsible for what was rightfully her responsibility.
" Ohh...Sakura..." Yasumi hushed as she pulled her softly into her arms, and stroked her back like a loving mother. She then stopped and realized that Sakura didn't know the true feeling of a mother's touch. That fact made her weep for her deep down in her heart. That eternal pain of never knowing or sharing any memories with your mother. If she lost her father as well, this would just make things worse.
" Shh...Sakura. Oh, Sakura...I never knew..." Yasumi whispered. She never knew...
A loud, annoying ring pierced through the silent air. Sakura gasped sitting up, only to find herself back in her bedroom and her alarm clock practically taunting her to turn it off. She quickly slammed down the snooze bar wondering why the hell she set it to 6:00 in the morning. She then realized and remembered last night's events and knew who set her alarm.
" But how did she know...?" she whispered to herself as she walked down the stairs, hair ruffled in all directions and in her face, her long night gown chasing her legs as she walked down each step to find Yasumi in the kitchen.
" Yasumi-san! The sun hasn't even come out yet!" Sakura cried in disbelief. Yasumi smiled snickered and then burst out laughing.
" Nani? Am I missing something?"
" Don't tell me you forgot about wanting to go out with Syaoran this morning," Yasumi responded calming down. Sakura gave her a confused look and then her eyes widened in shock.
" YOUR RIGHT! Oh my god...I can't call him! He's not a morning person...he'll say no for sure! I should just call the whole thing off...this is stupid..." Sakura muttered, watching Yasumi skillfully prepare pancakes.
" You didn't think I got you up early for nothing, did you? You are asking Syaoran to go out for breakfast. And besides..." She said trailing off. Sakura looked at her expression turn worried.
" You need a break from all that stress, and I'm sure seeing your boyfriend will help," Sakura sighed knowing she was right. Last night had obviously got her thinking. She was looking out for her and could tell she desperately needed a break from reality. She went to the fridge and got herself some juice.
" Guess I better get ready..."
" You got it," Yasumi replied sipping some coffee. Sakura desperately wanted breakfast, but knew she would enjoy it more if Syaoran eating with her.
" Syaoran-kun..."
Syaoran slowly felt himself start to awake, his internal alarm clock reminding him of an old friend called school, that was hours away. He turned to his clock, anything less than an 7 o'clock he ignored and drifted off to sleep when his cell phone rang it's cheerful tune loudly in his ear. He sighed feeling defeated and grabbed his phone into the warmth of his bed. Syaoran carefully examined the caller and felt his heart skip a beat and pick up rapidly. He opened the phone and brought his ear to hear the person's voice.
" Hey, Syaoran here." He said, trying to sound casual.
" Syaoran-kun! You actually picked up! Oh..." Sakura trailed off feeling embarrassed.
" Why wouldn't I...oh! It's like 6:20. I see, so you had your doubts," he said answering her worry.
" Yeah. So anyway...the reason I called you was...well..." she blushed biting her lower lip. Why did she feel so embarrassed?
" Good-morning, Sakura." He said lying back in his pillow. Even with her so far away, he still felt his heart beat rapidly. Was this normal? Had he felt like this with other women?
" OH! I'm so rude...I'm sorry...Ohayo!" she added cheerfully.
" Unless you say good mornin', I ain't getting up." He said with a smug grin on his face. Even though she couldn't see it, she could sense his smugness with the statement. Sakura giggled and began to feel herself calm down.
" You were saying?" he said, carrying on from where he had cut in.
" Well...you see..."
" Yes...?"
" Would you like to go out for breakfast this morning? I know it's early a-and that your probably not hungry or at this hour, but... you know what? I'm sorry...forget it..." Sakura stammered feeling her cheeks blaze with redness. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire. How could something so simple be so hard?
" That's too bad, because I would have said yes," he said casually, hearing Sakura sigh in relief, or maybe even in surprise.
" Really? Because I thought maybe—"
" Sakura, I'll always say yes to you..." he whispered, making Sakura feel like she would melt and her heart start to beat faster. She was always so surprised by his comments, but did he mean it? Was it truly from the heart and directed to her?
" Oh, Syaoran-kun...I was thinking we could go to some nice place for breakfast, but I have no idea where to go. Hong Kong isn't exactly very easy for me to get around, where would you like to go?" she asked sweetly.
" Well...I do know of this great place on Dai Shi Shi Street. Lot's of food places, cafes and bakeries are there. Remember I told you?" he asked, he was now fully out of bed and ready to go start getting dressed. But he still felt weak. He could barely remember last night, like he was drunk. His head was the main problem, but that was nothing common medicine couldn't cure.
" Oh yeah! I remember! We can go there, just you and I..." she added making Syaoran grin at the thought.
" I'll pick you up, at how's 7:00?" he asked, planning it in his head.
" That's perfect! Thanks so much, for everything!" she exclaimed happily.
" What do you mean everything? I'm just driving us there since you don't know the way," he explained wondering.
" Oh...you'll soon see, Syao-kun." Sakura mumbled cutely with a smile.
" Okay, surprise me."
" Oh you will be! Bye!"
" See you soon, Saku," he stated and ending the conversation.
Syaoran slowly and reluctantly got out his warm bed and trudged into his bathroom. He inspected his face, which looked flushed from his fever, but his eyes seemingly looked excited. Shook his head, his messy hair shaking in all directions and turned on his shower. After he finished he grabbed his school uniform and put it on, remembering to put his cologne on before doing so. He groaned realizing he couldn't find his annoying tie and quickly searched through his things before finding it on a hook in his closet. He then after looked in the mirror and fixed his hair, which took him a while to get the natural tousled.
He quietly walked down the stairs, skillfully jumping over the banister on the last couple of stairs and landing perfectly on the marble floor. Syaoran smirked to himself remembering a certain old friend of his would remind him to start training again. He shook his head, with a slight frown trying to forget it.
" But that was my old past..." he muttered with a sigh and walked to the door.
He grabbed what he needed as quietly as he could manage and slowly unlocked the door. He felt the cold air rush into his lungs, almost choking on the freshness of it. He took a deep breath and carefully locked the door behind him. He stepped out onto the walkway and made his way to the garage where he found his car. He unlocked it as well and got in, taking a few moments to collect his thoughts.
" Sakura..." he whispered, her name easily rolling off his tongue almost like a song.
" Not even you know my past, and now I there even more problems to be dealt with. I'm not going to drag you into them..." he said to himself, like he was reciting a prayer.
" No matter how much I love you..."
Why was he always the one to suffer? Already there was too much to worry about, too many decisions to be made. He wanted to tell her what was keeping him back...what was preventing him from properly explaining his feelings towards her, but he couldn't. He knew he couldn't. Especially since things were only going to get worse...
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MURASAKI HIME NOTES:
01/13/05
author-status: fucking pissed at some dumbasses in my life, mad tired, icy and slippery outside, nervous for exams, stressed, money conscious, still waiting...
Konnichiwa, hito bito! before i go on about this new chappie, i jus wanna say...GOMENASAI!!!! T-T
( if thats how u spell it...lolz P) i kno i promised to post nov. 20...and i didn't. Im such a let down! To sum this ain't a surprise...well im not sure about that...but yea. I promised Friday and today is Friday!!! YEAH. Here it is, chappie 11! It's rather sad compared to some, we get to see syao's point a view more. And how he feels deep down, beyond that bad boy exterior. Sakura's also trying tah piece things together...but all i kno is that after this, we're going to see everyone's true motives for their actions and iish like that. Wow...my writing style has changed a bit. Thats what like 5 months do to ya...or more. LOLZ D. Well...enjoy this. Emotionalism is a cool thingy to write about....and get reviews for, so please review...which i kno u ppl will! Domo! Welp! Now that i feel inspired...im gonna work on chappie 12...im soo excited! And i've been so nice that i SOOO deserve the reviews! '' okai i'll stop now...gtgz!
-MURAsaki Hime-
P.S. i jus realized that i left it at a cliffy!! im so evo.
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